Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 July 2008
77 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his policy in respect of incinerators or landfill as a means of waste disposal and management; his preferred options in this regard; if current thinking is in line with or anticipated in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27624/08]
View answer372 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to meet current and expected requirements in terms of waste management and disposal; the extent to which landfill, recycling or incineration is expected to play a part; the extent of environmental impact under each heading; when he expects to achieve best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28256/08]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 372 together.
The Programme for Government contains a range of commitments in respect of waste management policy centred on the Government's continued support for the internationally recognised waste hierarchy which places major emphasis on the prevention, reuse and recycling of waste while minimising reliance on landfill and incineration. This commitment to the waste hierarchy has added significance in the context of the requirements of the EU Landfill Directive to divert waste from landfill. Meeting this obligation will entail doubling the existing level of diversion from landfill by 2010 and further increases in diversion in subsequent years. The Programme also signalled a move away from mass burn incineration towards alternative technologies.
This is a process which will be assisted by the major review of waste policy, also provided for in the Programme, which is now commencing and which will address how best to implement waste prevention and minimisation, and the emergence of new technologies in waste management, particularly those for the mechanical and biological treatment of waste, which can reduce the need for incineration or landfill.
Undue emphasis on incineration as the cornerstone of waste management policy is detrimental to the development of alternative solutions. The review may well indicate some residual role for incineration in our future waste management strategy but I do not envisage it being on anything like the scale that was previously planned.
